Although the average person can lose between 50 and 100 hairs everyday, in most cases this hair loss is part of the natural cycle of hair growth, which replaces the lost hair over time. Unfortunately, for many people in the United States, hair loss is more permanent from causes ranging from pattern baldness to the autoimmune disease alopecia areata. Regardless of the reason for losing your hair, there are many options available on the market to help replace the hair you have lost.
Artificial Hair
For those who do not wish to undergo surgical or other medical hair replacement procedures, a hairpiece, wig or extensions can be used to give the appearance of hair. Artificial hair can range in both quality and price with customized prostheses made from real hair being more expensive than other options. Artificial hair pieces are especially helpful for temporary hair loss, such as that experienced by cancer patients.
Minoxidil
Over-the-counter topical applications are also available to assist in hair placement. One of the most popular of these products is minoxidil, most commonly known by the brand name Rogaine. Minoxidil is applied twice daily to the scalp in order to regrow hair or slow the rate of current hair loss. Hair growth can take up to 12 weeks of application to appear, states the Mayo Clinic, and will stop growing once you stop applying the product. Minoxidil does not grow new hair in everyone, and use of the product should be stopped if no hair growth is seen after six months.
Prescription
Men who are experiencing male-pattern baldness have an additional prescription treatment option for replacing lost hair. In some men, hair loss can be contributed to by a hormone called dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. The prescription medication finasteride, commonly sold under the brand-name Propecia, can be taken orally to block the conversion of DHT from testosterone, helping to slow hair loss and regrow new hair. Because DHT is primarily a male hormone, finasteride is not approved for use by women.
Scalp Reduction
When medicinal replacements are not successful, surgical options may provide better results. One possible surgical replacement method is a scalp reduction. During a scalp reduction areas of the scalp which are not growing hair are cut away. The remaining scalp with healthy hair growth is then pulled together and secured until healed. This effectively eliminates bald spots on the scalp.
Hair Transplant
A final hair replacement method is a hair transplant. Hair transplants take grafts of healthy hair follicles from other areas of your head, such as the sides and back, and transplant them on areas of the scalp where hair growth has stopped or been reduced. Different factors can affect the success of your hair transplant, according to the American Hair Loss Association, such as whether your hair is curly or straight, coarse or fine and how tight your scalp is.
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